Once the painting of Grandma Jiang had dried, Jiang Yu carefully placed it inside a long wooden box and stored it in a cabinet with great reverence.
So much time had passed that she thought she had forgotten what Grandma Jiang looked like. But as she painted, she realised that wasn’t the case. Even if her memories were blurred, when she recalled them, her grandmother’s face and voice remained clear.
The old master secretly confided in Teacher Shen, “This child’s talent in painting doesn’t lie in her technique but in the emotional impact of her work. Her paintings have a soul, which makes them extraordinarily moving… This is what we call ‘spirituality’. Painting skills can be learned with practice, but spirituality, that’s the rarest thing of all. It’s something you’re born with.”
“If Jiang Yu has such great talent, then why are you still worried, Master?” Teacher Shen asked.
The old master sighed, rubbing his head. “You don’t understand. For a teacher, having such a talented student is actually very stressful.”
Hearing this, Teacher Shen couldn’t help but nod in agreement. She had felt the same way before, back when she first realised that her student had surpassed her, it had left her feeling down for quite a while.
But now? Ah, well, geniuses are simply in a league of their own. Ordinary people like herself couldn’t possibly compete with them.
With that thought, she suddenly felt much better.
“Call up Old Lin and get some advice from him. Sigh, having such a gifted student is really troubling!” the old master said, already pulling out his phone.
Teacher Shen: “…”
You’re not asking for advice, you’re just showing off! You know full well that Master Lin has been searching for a promising student for years and hasn’t found one yet. Now you’re calling him just to rub it in. Is that really okay?
She watched as the old master held up his phone, claiming to seek guidance, while his face practically radiated smugness.
From the phone came a furious voice, “Cui Guosheng, that’s it, we’re done! I’m cutting ties with you!”
Even though the call wasn’t on speaker, Teacher Shen could hear Old Lin’s exasperated shouting loud and clear. That’s how mad he was.
The old master put down his phone, clicked his tongue and muttered, “That old man’s temper is getting worse and worse.”
Then, hands clasped behind his back, he leisurely lay back in his rocking chair, looking perfectly content.
Teacher Shen, who had been witnessing everything in silence: “…”
If there was ever an example of a guilty party acting innocent, this was it.
At that moment, Jiang Yu entered the room carrying a plate of freshly washed fruit. Seeing her, Teacher Shen suddenly remembered something and said, “Oh, right, Jiang Yu, about your Starry Sky painting, I’ve already spoken with Pang shijie. She’s agreed to display it in her gallery to see if anyone takes an interest in it.”
Jiang Yu hesitated. “Will this cause any trouble for Pang shijie?”
Teacher Shen waved a hand dismissively. “No worries, she was the one who suggested it! You can send the painting to her when you get the chance. I heard her gallery is preparing for an exhibition soon. If she can pull some strings and secure you a spot, that would be amazing.”
Jiang Yu nodded in understanding.
She hadn’t expected Pang shijie to actually help her out. Their last meeting had left her with the impression that Pang shijie wasn’t particularly fond of her, not hostile, but not especially warm either, just a little more familiar than a stranger.
She knew that this opportunity was entirely thanks to her Master.
Jiang Yu kept the matter in mind and later contacted Pang shijie for an address, then sent off Starry Sky. This painting had won her a championship in her previous life and she was confident in its quality.
Five days later, Pang shijie finally received the package. The parcel was meticulously wrapped and even her secretary was curious about its contents as he delivered it to her office.
Before he left, Pang shijie casually instructed, “Set aside a space for me in the upcoming exhibition.”
The secretary was slightly taken aback but didn’t question it, simply asking, “Where would you like the spot?”
She thought for a moment and replied, “It doesn’t need to be in a prime location, but don’t put it somewhere too obscure either.”
The secretary understood immediately. Ah, a reserved spot for a connection. Without further questions, he made a note of it.
With that settled, Pang shijie used a knife to carefully open the package. Inside was a long, cylindrical cardboard box containing a rolled-up painting.
She unrolled it with little expectation, after all, she had been running this gallery for years and had seen countless artworks, including masterpieces worthy of being passed down through generations. There was no way her junior sister’s painting could surprise her.
As the painting unfurled, revealing a vast night sky of deep blues and blacks, she suddenly paused, letting out an unconscious “Oh?”
In December, Shen Zhiwei’s painting of the Liangshan heroes was finally completed. The artwork measured 1.2 meters in length and featured a total of 108 characters. It took Jiang Yu nearly four months to finish.
As she completed the painting, the first snowfall of the season descended upon S City. When Jiang Yu turned to look outside, she saw white snowflakes fluttering down in the night, covering the entire city in a blanket of white.
Opening the door, a swirl of snowflakes was carried inside by the wind, landing directly on Jiang Yu’s face. The cold sensation was fleeting as the flakes quickly melted into water.
“It’s snowing…” Jiang Yu extended her hand, catching a few snowflakes in her palm and feeling the dampness immediately.
Just then, her phone, which had been left in the living room, rang. Jiang Yu walked back from the balcony, closing the door behind her. The weather had been freezing in the past few days. Even after spending just two minutes outside, she could already feel her face and hands turning numb from the cold.
“Hello, Master,” she answered.
The call was from the old master.
The old master’s voice boomed from the other end of the line, “It’s snowing outside. Make sure you close your doors and windows properly, don’t let yourself get cold.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yu felt a warmth in her heart. She nodded and replied, “I know, Master. You should take care of yourself too… Oh, by the way, my Liangshan heroes’ painting is finally finished. I can show it to you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? No, no, no! I’m coming over right now!” The moment the old master heard that her painting was complete, he became impatient. Before Jiang Yu could refuse, he hung up with a loud click, probably already preparing to head out.
Jiang Yu: “…”
That impatient personality of his was so much like Teacher Shen’s, he simply couldn’t wait.
About ten minutes later, the old master arrived, accompanied by Lu Mingshen. As soon as he stepped in, he eagerly asked, “Where’s the painting?”
The painting was still drying and had been laid out on the table. It was a 1.2-meter-long scroll, unrolled and extending onto the floor. The base colour had a slightly aged yellow tone and the characters in the painting had distinct expressions, each revealing their unique personalities through their gazes and postures.
All 108 characters came vividly to life on the paper, making for an impressive sight. At the top of the painting, Jiang Yu inscribed three bold characters: 《水浒传》 (Water Margin), her brushstrokes wild and uninhibited, carrying a raw and unrefined energy.
“You have a good hand for calligraphy, there’s already some depth to it,” the old master praised.
Jiang Yu replied, “I started practising calligraphy when I was a child. Back then, we had brush-writing lessons, though they were discontinued later. But I kept up with my practice.”
The old master stood before the table, completely engrossed in admiring the painting, as if he could stare at it forever.
Lu Mingshen stood nearby, silently observing. The Liangshan heroes’ painting was indeed impressive, exuding an overwhelming sense of grandeur. However, he personally preferred Jiang Yu’s other work, Sunshine, which evoked a sense of warmth.
“Mr. Lu, have some tea.” Jiang Yu had gone to the kitchen to boil a pot of tea and now poured a cup for Lu Mingshen.
She was quite curious about this Mr. Lu. He wasn’t the old master’s student, yet he had come with him today and hadn’t left like Pang Yu did. Instead, he had stayed.
Having grown somewhat familiar with him recently, Jiang Yu decided to ask him directly.
Lu Mingshen paused for a moment before explaining, “My health hasn’t been great, so I’m currently on a break.”
Jiang Yu was surprised. Lu Mingshen didn’t look like someone with poor health. He was strong, with a commanding presence and a sharp, intimidating aura that put pressure on those around him. However, compared to when they first met, his demeanour had softened considerably. At the very least, Jiang Yu had grown accustomed to being around him.
“Jiang Yu, your painting is remarkable. I rarely see the old master this happy,” Lu Mingshen commented.
Jiang Yu felt a little shy from the praise and responded modestly, “I’m still far from my Master’s level.”
Hearing this, Lu Mingshen couldn’t help but chuckle.
Jiang Yu looked at him curiously, unsure of what he found amusing.
Lu Mingshen met her gaze and said, “You’re already comparing yourself to the old master, that means you have great ambition, Jiang Yu.”
“…”
Jiang Yu was genuinely embarrassed now and muttered under her breath, “Well, people should always have dreams.”
Teacher Shen only learned that the painting was finished the next day. The moment she heard the news, she rushed to Jiang Yu’s place. As soon as she stepped inside, she asked, “Your Liangshan heroes’ painting is done?”
Jiang Yu nodded. “I finished it last night.”
Teacher Shen took off her coat while walking into the living room.
The old master was sitting in a chair, leisurely sipping his tea. Seeing her enter, he drawled, “Oh, you’re here? The painting’s over there. If this piece were sold in your shijie’s gallery, the minimum price would be 500,000 yuan. If all the characters maintained the same level and style as those in the latter half of the painting, the price would go even higher.”
Under the old master’s guidance, Jiang Yu’s artistic style had evolved. The characters in the latter half of the painting appeared even more “alive,” as if they had souls of their own. Jiang Yu had paid special attention to their eyes.
“As they say, ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul.’ This applies not only to people but also to paintings. The term ‘final touch’1 exists for a reason, because a pair of eyes can capture a person’s essence…”
These were the old master’s words. He placed great importance on the expressions and gazes of characters in portrait paintings and Jiang Yu had clearly been influenced by his philosophy.
The old master then shot a sharp look at Teacher Shen and grumbled, “Look at Jiang Yu, she’s already better than you! Have you been slacking off in your painting practice lately?”
At this, Teacher Shen immediately shrank back, looking like a timid quail, not daring to say a word for fear of being scolded by the old master.
Suddenly remembering something, she quickly changed the subject, “Oh, right! Jiang Yu, do you remember the national high school art competition I mentioned before?”
Jiang Yu thought for a moment and vaguely recalled it. She nodded. “I remember. But I already told you, I’m not planning to participate.”
“What competition?” the old master interjected.
Teacher Shen said, “It’s that Lan Hua Youth Art Competition. Although it doesn’t carry much weight in the calligraphy and painting world, students who win awards can get extra points for their college entrance exams. I originally wanted Jiang Yu to participate, but she refused. I figured she didn’t really need the extra points from this award, so I didn’t push her.”
Jiang Yu asked, “Teacher, why did you suddenly bring this up?”
At this, Teacher Shen couldn’t help but want to pull her hair. She said, “Besides you, the only other student in the studio who paints well is Yu Bing. She initially agreed to participate, but yesterday she found out that you weren’t competing and said that if you weren’t joining, she wouldn’t either. You two were our best hopes for winning an award and if neither of you participate, what am I supposed to do?”
Winning student competitions also meant bonus money for the teacher, not to mention the honour that came with it. Teacher Shen cared about that.
And she had another question: “Since when did you and Yu Bing get so close?”
Jiang Yu was puzzled. “She said she wouldn’t participate if I didn’t?”
Teacher Shen nodded. “I don’t know what she’s thinking, but at least one of you has to enter. If neither of you do, we won’t win a single award! The school will definitely have something to say about that.”
As a graduate of Changqing Academy of Fine Arts, who was also hired back at a high salary, she needed to show some results.
Jiang Yu frowned slightly. Teacher Shen looked at her expectantly and said, “Jiang Yu, my dear shimei, you wouldn’t just stand by and let me lose face, would you?”
“…If Yu Bing doesn’t participate, then I will,” Jiang Yu said. “But it almost feels like I’m bullying her.”
The old master waved off the concern and said, “What’s unfair about it? You’re good at painting, that’s your skill! But your mindset isn’t quite right. You’re too arrogant and complacent. Our country is huge, who knows how many hidden talents are out there? There are plenty of people better than you and you’re not guaranteed to win.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yu smiled a little sheepishly and said, “You’re right, I’ve been too arrogant. There are many people in this world who are more skilled than me, so I need to work even harder.”
At this, the old master furrowed his brows, wondering if he had been too harsh. After all, his apprentice was still young and should be encouraged.
Teacher Shen suddenly remembered something and said, “Oh right, Pang shijie called and said her gallery’s art exhibition is set for this month. Did she mention it to you?”
Jiang Yu nodded. “Pang shijie told me about it a while ago.”
Teacher Shen nodded. “This will be the first time your work is formally showcased to the public. Why don’t you take a leave and make a trip to City B?”
Hearing this, Jiang Yu fell into thought.
Snow had been falling on and off over the past few days. Especially the previous night, when it snowed all night. By the time everyone woke up the next morning, the entire city was covered in white. A thick layer of snow rested on the trees outside and whenever the wind blew, tiny snowflakes would drift down.
Sanitation workers, dressed in yellow uniforms, had been up early clearing the streets, making paths for pedestrians.
At this hour, the sky had yet to brighten. Jiang Yu, biting into a freshly made jianbing guozi2, walked toward school. The pancake was still hot from the griddle, warming her hands. Soon, her fingertips began to feel the heat.
A sanitation worker holding a broom noticed her and called out, “Be careful, young lady! The snow over there hasn’t been cleared yet, you don’t want to slip!”
Jiang Yu looked up at him and the worker was momentarily surprised to see that the young girl had such beautiful, expressive eyes, eyes that seemed to speak.
“Thank you for the reminder, sir. I’ll be careful,” Jiang Yu said with a bright smile.
The sanitation worker was an elderly man with graying hair. He happened to have a granddaughter around Jiang Yu’s age and looking at Jiang Yu now, he couldn’t help but feel a bit fond of her.
His wrinkled face broke into a smile. He wore a mask, so his full expression was hidden, but his eyes crinkled into slits. He held a large shovel in his gloved hands.
“Go on to class and be careful not to fall,” the old man reminded her again before turning away.
A snowflake landed on Jiang Yu’s nose, sending a cool sensation through her skin. She reached up to rub her nose and watched as the old man bent down to shovel snow. The snow he cleared was piled into the flower beds along the road, perfect as fertiliser.
More snowflakes drifted down. As Jiang Yu walked on, she found herself glancing back, the old sanitation worker was almost entirely covered in snow, his bundled-up figure slightly hunched as he steadily cleared the pavement.
A streetlamp stood beside him, casting a soft yellow glow. The light stretched his shadow long across the ground.
The rest of the surroundings were still shrouded in dim morning darkness, making it seem as if this one streetlamp was the only source of light.
It looked just like a painting.
Jiang Yu blinked. She had agreed to participate in the art competition, but until now, she had no inspiration for her entry. But as she watched this scene, an idea started to take shape in her mind.
She turned a corner and the old man’s figure disappeared from view.
By the time she reached school, the sun had yet to rise. The classroom was warm, heated by the air conditioning. The moment she stepped inside, a wave of warmth rushed over her, quickly dispelling the cold air she had carried in.
The school didn’t always have air conditioning. In past winters, students had frozen hands and feet. But last year, a parent donated a large number of air conditioners to the school, installing them in every classroom. This winter, as soon as the temperatures dropped, the school turned them on, making the classrooms cosy. That parent? Mr. Xu, the richest man in City S.
Taking off her scarf, Jiang Yu looked toward Xu Ruyi, who was sitting at her desk, sipping on a yogurt drink.
“You’re here early today,” Jiang Yu said.
Xu Ruyi swallowed her yogurt, wiped her mouth neatly and said, “I skipped dinner last night, so I woke up starving.”
Jiang Yu sat down and took out a thermos from her bag. When she opened it, a rich, fragrant aroma filled the air, making Xu Ruyi’s nose twitch. She leaned in curiously.
“What’s that?”
Jiang Yu replied, “Chicken soup. My Master gave me half a chicken, said it’s an old hen that’s great for nourishment. I simmered it in my rice cooker last night. Want some?”
Xu Ruyi nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining like stars.
This girl’s biggest hobby was eating. Because of her love for food, she had grown round and soft like a little dumpling. In the winter, she looked even fluffier.
The chicken soup had been kept in the thermos, still piping hot, warm enough to slightly scald the tongue but perfect for drinking. It was rich and flavourful, with red dates and goji berries added for extra nourishment. One sip and warmth spread through the whole body, filling them with comfort.
The two girls sipped their soup in unison. When they finished, they both let out a satisfied sigh at the same time, their expressions mirroring each other so perfectly that the classmates around them couldn’t help but laugh.
“Jiang Yu, someone’s looking for you!” a classmate sitting near the door suddenly called out.
Jiang Yu paused and looked up, standing at the classroom door was Yu Bing, gazing straight at her.
- 点睛之笔 literally means ‘the stroke that dots the eye’. It originates from a Chinese legend about the painter Zhang Sengyao, who drew dragons without eyes and only brought them to life by dotting their eyes. The phrase is now used metaphorically to describe a crucial finishing touch that enhances or perfects something, making it truly remarkable. ↩︎
- A popular Chinese street food originating from Tianjin. It consists of a thin, crispy savoury crepe (jianbing) made from mung bean, wheat, or millet flour, cooked on a griddle and filled with a crispy fried dough stick (guozi). The crepe is typically brushed with sweet bean sauce, chili sauce and fermented tofu, then topped with scallions, cilantro and sometimes egg before being folded into a handheld wrap. ↩︎
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